Zambian President sacks defence chief

Zambian President sacks defence chief

Zambia’s interim President Guy Scott has sacked defence minister and presidential hopeful, Edgar Lungu, to a powerful governing party post.
Mr Lungu had said his sacking was illegal and highly provocative at a time of mourning for President Michael Sata, who died last week.
Correspondents say a power struggle has been unfolding in the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) over the succession.
Mr Scott said all campaigning was banned until after Mr Sata’s burial.
Egar Lungu is a powerful figure within the Patriotic Front party
Mr Scott became acting leader – Zambia’s first white head of state – in accordance with the country’s constitution, which requires the vice-president to assume presidential duties until elections take place within 90 days.
As the constitution stands, he is ineligible to run for president in the elections because it bars candidates whose parents were not born in Zambia.
The BBC’s Meluse Kapatamoyo in the capital, Lusaka, says the initial sacking surprised many people as Mr Scott himself had urged people not to play politics while the nation mourns Mr Sata.